A broken pipe is to blame for dirty water that flowed into homes in a neighborhood in Clinton.

When Preston Gill turned on the faucet in his kitchen sink yesterday evening, what poured out looked more like orange juice than water.

Officials with East Feliciana Rural Water, the parish water company, said another utility company accidentally busted a pipe when workers were digging in the neighborhood. That caused the water pressure to drop and additional minerals from the aquifer to mix into the water supply. Those minerals turned the water a rusty orange color.

The water company said the water is safe to drink, despite the unusual color. According to officials, it could take several days before the discoloration is completely flushed out.

A water sample will be sent to the state health department next week for testing.